Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-12-10


10y OF our National activities increase new 70
OF the new advantages which they
conceive the present system Of tariff taxa
tion directly offered them.
30 stubbornly have al efforts to reform
the present condition been resisted By those
OF our fellow -oitizsns thus engaged that
they can hardly complain Of the suspicion,
entertained to certain extent that there ex-
lists an organized combination Al along the
line 10 maintain their advantage. We are in
tho midst of centennial celebrations and
with becoming pride we reioics in Ameri-
can skill and ingenuity In American energy
and enterprise, and In tho wonderful natu-
raj advantage and resources developed by
centurys National growth. Yet when an
attempt Is made to justify scheme which
permits tax TO be laid upon every con-
sumer in the land FOR the benefit Of our
manufacturers, quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, IL suite
the purposes OF advocacy to call our manu-
features infant industries still needing tho
highest and greatest degrees of favor and .
fastening care that can be wrung from
federal legislation. Tt is also stated that
the increase In the price of domestic manu-
factures resulting from the present tariff Is
necessary in order that higher wages may 90
paid to our workingmen employed in .nanu-
factories, than arc paid for what Is called
the pauper labor of Europe.
All will acknowledge tho force OF ar argu-
mont which involves tbs. welfare and liberal
compensation of our labor Is honorable in
the eyes OF every American citizen. and as
it lies at the Foundation OF our dew alopment
and progress. 1t is entitled, without affecta-
tion or hypowacy, to the utmost regard.
The standard OF our laborer's ife should not
be measured by that Of any other country
less favored, and they are entitled to their
full share of our advantages. BY the last
census it is made to appear that Of the n,
49,, 099 Of our population engaged in all
kinds Of industries, 1910, 493 ara employed
in agriculture, a,07A,28s in professional and
personal service. l3,934s7B Of whom are
domestic servants aud laborers,) while
1910, S56 are employed in trade and trans
portation, and 3.s57,1l2 are classed as EN-
ployed in manufacturing and mining.
For present purposes, however, TIN last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting to enumerate
all, 1t will be conceded that there should DO
deducted from those which it includes $780,
143 carpenters and joiners, 2s5, 40l millinera,
dressmakers and seamstresses; ~, l26 black
smiths, l33, 756 tailors and tailoressea, l02,-
AIS maaons rs "a butchers, 1850 bakers,
!! 230s3 plasterers. and 1881 engaged in man
ufacturing agricultural Implements
amounting in the aggregate to .,2l4, U28,
leaving 2, 1923, 0sg persons employed III such
manufacturing industries. as are claimed to
| be benefited by high tariff. To these the
appeal is made to save their employ mont,
and maintain their wages by resisting a
change.
| There should be no disposition to answer
such suggestions by the allegation that they
are in a minority among those who labor,
and therefore should forego an advantage,
in the interest of low prices for the ma
! jority; their compensation, as il may DO az :
fected by the operation OF tariff laws,
should at all times be scrupulously kept in
view; and yet with slight ropletion they
will not overlook the fact that they are con :
sumers with the resi-: that they, too, have
their own wants and those Of their families
to supply from the earnings, and that the
price of the necessaries of life as we'll az
the amount of their wages, will regulate the
measure Of thar welfare and comfort But
the reduction of taxation demanded Should
be so measured as not to necessitate or Jus.
| tify the loss OF employment by the working
man, nor lessen his wages, the profits still
| remaining to the manufacturer after a
necessary rcadjustment should furnish nc
! excuse for the sacrifice OF the interested Of
| his employees either in their opportunity to
work or in the deminution of their c6mpen-
sation. Nor can he,worker in manufac-
- r i 4 - l. III.
tariff is claimed to be necessary to allow
the payment of remunerative wagers it GER
tainly resulted in a very large increase in
the price of nearly all sorts Of manufac.
lures, which, in almost countless forms, he
needs for the use Of himself and his family.
He receives at tho desk Of his employer his
wages, and perhaps before he reaches his
home is obliged in purchase for family
use of an article which embraces his own
labor, to return in the payment OF the in
crease in prics which the tariff permits the
hard earned compensation OF m any days Of
toll.
The farmer and the egriculturalist, who
manufacture nothing but who pay the in
creased price which the tariff imposes, upon
every agricultural implement, upon all he
wears and upon all he uses and owns, ex.
c6pb the increase OIL MS llocks anu nerubs hnu
such things as in his husbandry produces
} from the soil, is invited to aid in main.
tanning the present situation, and he is old
that high duty on imported wool is neces
sary for the benefit OF those who have sisseI
to shear, in order that the price of theil
wool may be increased. They, Of course
are not Reminded that the farmer who ha.
no sheep is this scheme obliged, In his pur
chases of clothing and wooden goods, to pay
tribute to his fellow farmer as well a. t
, the manufacturer and merchant; nor is am
, mention made of tho fact that the sheer
, owners themselves and their households
must wear clothing and use other article
manufactured from the WOOL They sell a
tariff prices and thus as consumers mus
return their share Of this increased price tc
: the tradesnan.
I think it may be fairly assumed that 9
large proportion of the sheep ownsd by the
farmers throughout the country are found
in small fiocxs numbering from twsnty- a va
to fifty. The duty on this grade of imported
/ wool which these sheep yield Is ten cents
I each pound IL of the value of thirty cents OF
[ less, and twelve cents il of the value o
. more than thirty csnts. II the liberal esti
mate Of six pounds be allowed for eacf
n he ,.tx bo ofw -